Improvement in cotton-bale ties



ITED STATES CHARLES SWETT, OF COPIAH COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI.

IMPROVEMENT IN COTTCN-BALE TIES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 129,187, dated July 16, 172.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES SWETT, of the county of Oopiah and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bale-Ties, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and the letters of reference marked thereon, in aking part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a top-plan view. Fig. 2 is a modification of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an edge view of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an edge view of Fig. 2.

The object of my present improvement in ties for securing cotton and other bales, like my former application, the petition and oath of which are of even date herewith, is to furnish a cheap, simple, and reliable tie, in which the necessary strength is provided, and the utmost facility in fastening the same so as to properly retain the bale is secured, and also to produce a tie-plate which can be manufactured with scarcely any loss of metal. My present invention consists in substituting for the looped plate described in my former application, a flat plate, the central section of which is a rhomboidal shape, while its end sectionsare square, or of other suitable form. The end sections of the plate, and at their opposite faces, are so punched as to leave an in-- clined lip on each of said sections, which not only serves to prevent the hooked end of the band from slipping off the plate, as do the shoulders in my former application, but also, owing to the lips, the body of the hoop is so wedged in by the expansion of the bale when relieved from pressure as to afford'the utmost security of fastening.

The construction and operation of my invention are as follows: Out of any suitable metal of proper strength and dimensions is punched or stamped the plate A, which constitutes my improved tie, and which is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing. The center section A of this plate is rhomboidal in form, while its end sectionsare square, or of other suitable form. These end sections are so out or punched as to leave a lip, B, on each section. These lips are at the opposite sides of the plate, and are inclined upward from the plane thereof at any suitable or desired angle, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, so as to allow of the free insertion of the band under the lips, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and in which last figures the fastening of the band around the bale, as when in use, is also shown. In Fig. l the-center section of the plate A is rhomboidal in form, yet I desire it to be understood that there is nothing arbitrary about this, as the plate may be manufactured with its center section of any other desired contour or shape that will permit of the hooked ends of the band 0 being introduced under the lips B B. One of such modifications in outline or configuration is clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, and in comparing this latter plate with that of Fig. 1 it will readily be seen'that, although the plates differ slightly in form, still the method of fastening the ends of the band are identical in the two, and is effected through the same mechanical agency. Iprefer, however, the device represented in Fig. 1, as the inclined faces a a serve as a guide, as it were, to direct the hooked end of the band, so that the head of the hook will be the more readily passed to the flat faces 12 b of the end sections, and on which the heads of the oblate hooks have their bearings or seats when the fastening is complete.

From the foregoing description the operation of the tie-plate so as to secure the ends of theband will be readily understood. The plate, formed as described, is furnished to the trade, as is the usual custom, with one loop attached. This loop encircles or incloses a portion of one of the end sections of the plate, its head resting against the flat face b and the lip 13* resting on the upper surface of the band. The bands in this condition are placed in the press. When the cotton has been so compressed as to reduce the bale to the desired bulk or dimensions, the free end of the band is looped or hooked at the proper point and passed over the end of the plate, and, coming in contact with the face a, is readily conducted under the lip 13* to its proper hearing or seat b. The two oblate hooks are now in proper position to secure a permanent fastening, the lips B* B* serving to prevent the oblate hooks from slipping off, and also wedge the hand between the bale and plate, and thus adding an additional security against the hooks drawing out, the short ends of which are against the base, as usual with all the oblate hook ties.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is- The tie-plate A having the lips B B on the opposite edges thereof the whole being constructed and arranged as described and shown, to secure a fastening for the bands around bales of cotton, &c., substantially as set forth.

In testimonywhereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHAS. SWETT. Witnesses:

EDWIN JAMES, J 0s. T. K. PLANT. 

